We are excited to share our news that the Community Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship demonstration project has been assessed as fully successful. ACGME announced their decision for CHPM to become a permanent pathway as part of the University of Colorado's HPM Fellowship. The Community Hospice and Palliative Medicine (CHPM) Pathway has been formally approved by ACGME as an official pathway in the CU Family Medicine Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program! In 2019, ACGME approved CHPM under their Advancing Innovation in Residency Education (AIRE) demonstration program supporting innovation in Graduate Medical Education. CHPM innovations included using online remote learning and curriculum linked to required competencies. Our innovations support mid-career physicians with HPM fellowship training while continuing to work part-time in their own communities. As a result, these physicians complete HPM fellowship requirements, meeting the need for more HP specialists, especially in rural, underserved and safety net settings. Reflecting five years of successful work, the CHPM was approved by the ACGME Family Medicine Review Committee as a permanent pathway within our fellowship in April 2025. Currently CHPM is approved for 12 part time Fellows yearly and 24 Fellows in total.
Founders Amos Bailey MD, Maurice Scott MD and Katherine Morrison MD worked with ACGME to develop this pilot program, which matriculated its first fellowship class in 2020. Unlike traditional fellows, CHPM fellows participate part-time over a span of 3-4 years. Initially they complete an online Master of Science in Palliative Care (https://www.cuanschutz.edu/graduate-programs/palliative-care/home). From there they provide care for patients with palliative needs in their local communities, building their clinical profile while working within their license and privileging. Fellowship faculty assess and provide feedback around a variety of virtual, online learning activities which often are representative of their patient encounters. To date, 32 fellows from 9 medical specialties living in 18 states have matriculated; 18 have graduated and 14 are currently enrolled. Thirteen fellows have taken the initial HPM board certification exam and all have passed.
Interdisciplinary faculty and staff from Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Internal Medicine worked together to build and execute this innovative program and the program is grateful for the support received from CUSOM Family Medicine, General Internal Medicine, CU Grad School and Graduate Medical Education as well as the ACGME and the HPM co-sponsoring specialty boards. We are grateful to our current and graduated fellows for their support, feedback, persistence and hard work!
Want to know more about our Palliative Care Education programs? Click below:
